Cheltenham's 'Champion' Hurdle

Leeds boss Dennis Wise will be hoping his players can put recent cup disappointments behind them and refocus on what has always been the number one priority - promotion back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

This weekend sees yet another first for United, currently completing a year's 'meet and greet' tour of England's lower league sides. Cheltenham Town is the destination, a name far more synonymous with the Cheltenham Festival - four days of the finest Jump racing in the world, than for it's football team.

Sunday will see the first ever clash between the two sides, who's footballing pedigree has been bred from vastly different stock. The Gloucestershire outfit only gained promotion to the Football League as recently as 1999. Whilst Leeds United have the distinction of having appeared in all three major European Club Competition Finals, including the now defunct European Cup Winners Cup.

On paper the Whites appear huge favourites, after gatecrashing the top 4 way ahead of schedule despite their 15 point handicap, whilst their opponents have struggled to break out of a trot, and currently sit bottom of the pile. In pure points terms Leeds have accumulated a staggering return of 41 from 16 games, while the Robins have managed just 12.

However, in view of the recent cup defeats to Bury and Hereford United, there is no way that manager Wise will allow his players to believe that they have anything other than a tough battle on their hands. Whaddon Road will be filled to capacity, with the club confirming on Tuesday that the match is now a sell-out, the first since the Premiership's Newcastle United visited for an FA Cup tie in 2006.

Ahead of the game Cheltenham have bolstered their attacking options with the loan signing of non-league thoroughbred Guy Madjo from Crawley Town. The former Bristol City trainee has so far plundered 11 goals in 17 starts this season. If Robins boss Keith Downing can inspire his side to upset the odds and claim a historic victory, there's sure to be a roar at least as loud as that which saw the classy Kauto Star storm to victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on a memorable day in May.